roaringmamalion's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I'm confused. This is marketed as a book for "younger readers," and the quality of the plot and the vocabulary verifies that. But the talk of sex (including a butterfly tattoo on someone's rear end) makes this much more appropriate for high school and above. Perhaps this would work as a "high-low" book for lower skilled readers in high school classes. Ultimately, this book is a "pass," and I'll need to remove it from my middle school classroom.
absentminded_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Light, airy text. Short chapters. Small town mystery solved by teenagers. Boxing chapters served as metaphors for life. Thoughts on love, sex, and adulthood. Overall, a very good read. Engaging characters. Not overly involved plot that touches upon teenage feelings on isolation, responsibility, friendship, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My only complaint is that teenagers rarely think or say "What do I know about X, I am only 15". My experience with actual 15yos is that they think they are already adults. Age appropriateness is an adult concept, not a teenage one, unless age is a barrier to activity, like driving or clubbing. The fact that teenagers consider themselves adults is one of the reasons they get themselves in over their heads all the time. Incidentally, it is also how they learn to become adults.
My only complaint is that teenagers rarely think or say "What do I know about X, I am only 15". My experience with actual 15yos is that they think they are already adults. Age appropriateness is an adult concept, not a teenage one, unless age is a barrier to activity, like driving or clubbing. The fact that teenagers consider themselves adults is one of the reasons they get themselves in over their heads all the time. Incidentally, it is also how they learn to become adults.
sherreemac's review against another edition
3.0
Very light, story. Not too bad. Luckily a short read.
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